How to make your own FnF bobbers

[Devils Horse]

I took elnuts' instructions on making FnF bobbers and formatted into numbered steps. Thought it might help any do-it-yourselfers on here. I've got a few of his early production models he gave me, but I may make myself some too.

1. Make a pen mark across the center of the bobber north-to-south across the joint line of the orange and white sections. This is so you can line up the two halves exactly in the same place when you put it back together.

2. Place your thumb on the bottom of the bobber, compress the spring so the top wire is exposed and bend it out straight with small needlenose pliers. Always work on the top part of the wire, the bottom bend is what hooks to the swivel or line and should stay factory smooth.

3. Remove the middle wire, weight, spring, and top and bottom plastic shafts. You may have to use the pliers on the plastic, but they are not glued in and will come out readily enough. Pay attention to the bobber and it’s parts during disassembly, it’ll go back together the exact same way.

4. Cut the bobber in half on the seam between the orange and white sections with an exacto knife.

5. Use the exacto knife to remove some of the foam from each half around the hole in the center, this is where the weight is going to go. If I’m not going to use a 3 way swivel I remove SLIGHTLY more foam from the white (bottom) section than the orange because I want the weight in the middle of the bobber, but EVER SO SLIGHTLY below the center point. This adds a little sensitivity. If using a 3 way swivel the weight should be ever so slightly above the center point to accommodate the swivel's weight.

6. Dry test by putting the weight in the middle and fitting the two halves together without the guts. Align the pen mark and make sure there are no gaps around the outside at the seam. Remove more foam if necessary to achieve a perfect fit.

7. Since the weight will be inside the bobber instead of on the outside, you should shorten the shaft and wire. Cut about ¼ to 3/8” or so off the plastic shaft you removed from the bottom of the bobber, and off the end of the middle wire you bent out.

8. Place the bottom plastic shaft back into the white section of the bobber. Apply silicone based adhesive (normal glue will melt the styrofoam) all around that half, put the weight around the shaft, and fit the orange section on top. Align the pen mark, put the plastic shaft in the top (orange) section, and squeeze together. I use small spring clamps to clamp this together with the jaws of the clamp on the plastic shafts. Remove any excess glue and leave overnight to dry.

9. Placed in a sink of water, the bobber should lie on its side or maybe tilt slightly if you offset it any in step 5. If it turns white or orange side up, then the weight is not properly centered.

11. Stick the middle wire up thru the bottom plastic shaft in the bobber leaving the factory side on the bottom (white). Slide on the spring so it sits in the chamber it came from originally, then fit the top plastic piece on the shaft over the spring. Push down so the metal shaft protrudes from top plastic piece and bend a candy cane shaped hook in the top with your needlenose pliers. This hook should fit into the top plastic piece and hold the whole thing together. Holding the plastic part that’s compressing the spring with one hand, while bending the top of the wire can be a little tricky. You’re finished. Compress the top, and the bottom hook of the bobber should be exposed.

12. Final test: Tie a small section of line to a FnF jig and hook it to the bottom hook on the bobber. Put it in the sink of water and the bobber should sit up normally. Put your hand in the water and lift the jig towards the surface. The bobber should lay over on its side. Your 30 cent bobber is now a 2 dollar FnF bobber.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Jim,

Too bad Ky Lake was chocolate milk for those 2 days we fished together last winter or you could have seen one of these bobbers drown from the force of a Smallie. Still had a good time and it was good meeting you. We will have to get together at Dale this winter to give it another shot.

[GeoFisher]

Excellent instructions............

For the adhesive, I normally use a glue gun. The glue melts the bobber a little, but over all, it makes a GREAT seal, and the melting actually holds the bobber together a little better.....AT least I think so.

Also, as I stated above, sometimes I will use a bobber a little bigger than the bob's bobber. They are really good when the bite is MONSTER aggressive, or the fish are spooky and you need to get more distance.

Again......Excellent instructions.

Later,

Geo